#and hopefully mara going back to hen and karen

[makorragal-312]

Personally, I don't think Chris is gonna come back home in 8x03. But, I DO think that it's gonna be the episode where he finally reaches out to Eddie. Or at the very least starts answering his phone calls or messages.

[blackcoldcrackedheart]

Santa Monica is cool and stuff, but have you ever gone to the beaches in Ventura? Zen AF.

Here's some beach fluff.

Buck and Tommy were all too thrilled to be up at 7 am on their day off.

Only because they had plans for today.

Amazing and, hopefully, fun plans.

"You guys are amazing to agree to watch them." Hen told them sincerely as she and Maddie watched as Mara and Jee excitedly hugged Tommy and Buck.

"Yeah, we can't thank you enough." Maddie added, hands over her heart as she watched Tommy pick up Jee.

"Thank us for watching our favorite nieces? Please. " Tommy playfully scoffed. "This has been the one thing we've been looking forward to all week." Tommy admitted, patting Jees back in comfort as the little girl rested her head onto Tommy's shoulder.

Buck looked at his sister who was trying to not coo at the sight. He was fighting the same issue, watching his neice and his boyfriend snuggle was making his heart skip beats.

"Tommy's right," Buck added, smiling softly at Jee and Mara, who was holding onto Buck's arm and dozing off since it was still so early for them both. "We’ve been excited to babysit the girls, we've got everything we need." He pointed towards his sister, "including snacks!"

Both women rolled their eyes at him, but Buck shrugged it off. "What about Denny? He really didn't want to come?"

Hen gave them an apologetic smile, "As much as he actually did want to come along, his school is taking part in a robotics competition and Denny wanted to go since apparently robot fighting is rumored to be expected." Hen explained, rolling her eyes at Buck's excited look.

"Robot fighting versus beach day. Totally get it." He joked.

"Karen and Chim should be able to get the girls by tomorrow morning, that still works?"

Tommy gave them a thumbs up, while Buck nodded with an excited grin. "Works perfectly."

Maddie and Hen gave both men a "Thank you" before kissing both girls goodbye, reminding them to be nice to their uncles before leaving.

"Okay!" Buck clapped his hands together excited, "Who's up for some strawberry Frenchtoast before we hit the road?"

"Me!"

"Meeeeeee!"Jee popping right awake had Tommy laughing as he followed Buck and Mara into the kitchen.

After breakfast, the four of them got into Buck's jeep and started the drive up north.

Fortunately, driving up from Tommy's house is easier since they avoided all the traffic coming into LA.

The first spot was a small beach by Harbor Village, Tommy and Buck were able to set up a spot close to the water with Mara and Jee's help.

(Jee, ever the little helper, got upset that she couldn't carry the beach chairs to show she was just as strong as her uncle Buck and uncle Tommy)

Buck helped Mara get her swim cap on as Tommy laid out a blanket and got the toys they had bought for the girls specifically. Both men were also adamant about sun block for both girls, spraying a liberal amount on both their nieces (and themselves).

Both men took turns sitting on the beach and watching over their things as they took the girls out into the water. With Buck getting each girl to paddle board with him and Tommy showing them how to surf. Both girls ended up playing in the water for a long while, squealing happily as the water splashed around them. They made sand castles, played around with a volley ball, and took lot of pictures to send to Karen, Hen, Chimney, and Maddie.

Before long it was nearing one and all of the snacks were gone. "Who's up for some burgers?" Tommy asked the crew as he and Buck helped the girls into some shorts and hoodies. They had managed to get their stuff back into the jeep (and collected half of the beaches sand too).

"Me!" "Me, I'm really hungry!"

Buck picked up Jee and pointed towards the small gathering of restaurants that were walking distance. "Theres a old school burger shop that has milkshakes." He told them in a sing a long voice. "Does that work?"

Mara nodded excitedly at that, "Yes! Can I have a strawberry milkshake?" She asked politely.

Tommy felt his heart lurch out, he had seen how comfortable Mara was getting with not only the team but with them specifically. She had taken a while to open up to Buck and himself, understandably, but now? He would refuse to admit to anyone but Buck about how it almost had him tearing up at how Mara felt safe and comfortable with them now.

"Of course you can, Mara." He told her gently, holding out his hand for her to take, leading them towards the restaurant.

After lunch they headed over to main street, letting the girls burn their energy off as they walked down the street and into shops that interested them.

(Did Tommy and Buck buy each girl a new coloring set, stickers, and their own individual ukulele? Yep!)

They drove further up till they made it to Santa Barbara. The girls loved the water, again asking both men to take them paddle boarding and surfing.

Buck felt more relaxed as ever as he watched Tommy play with the girls, laughing as the girls tried to tackle Tommy into the water.

Buck felt his heart skip a beat again, he rubbed his chest. He could feel his eyes sting as he thought about Tommy and him having kids, giving Mara, Denny, Jee, and Christopher a few new cousins to play with.

He hadn’t spoken to Tommy much about them having kids, but he knew Tommy wanted kids. He knew how much Tommy adored all the kids from the 118 and his own nephew and niece (Buck had met Theo, age 3, and Harley, age 6 via zoom and saw how much they meant to Tommy).

It was something they both wanted, Buck was only a little bit doubtful about it being something that Tommy wanted with him.

After enjoying tacos for dinner, the group made their way to the ice cream parlor, Buck knowing how crowded the town got crowded in the evening opted to hold a table in the courtyard for them. He took Jee with him and left Mara and Tommy to order their ice cream.

Ten minutes later, a very smiley Mara and a red faced Tommy came towards them, each carrying a cup of ice-cream in their hands.

"Hey uncle Buck, guess what!"

"What?" Buck quickly gave Jees ice-cream to her since his little niece was making grabby hands towards the dessert and looking annoyed.

"The cashier at the ice-cream shop thought you and uncle Tommy were my dads. It was cute, they told uncle Tommy that we're a cute family."

That explained Tommy's red face.

"That was sweet of them." Buck smiled, he looked up at Tommy again, giving his boyfriend a hopeful smile as the four sat to eat their dessert.

By the time they got back to Tommy's place, it was late and both girls were passed out asleep.

"You think about one day doing this with our own kids?" Tommy asked, almost hesitantly as he carried a sleepy Mara while Buck carried Jee into the house.

Buck was sure this time that his heart melted at that, he took a moment to catch his voice. "Every day." He answered softly.

Morning came way too fast for everyone in the house, Tommy and Buck were still dealing with two very tired girls.

"I can drink a little coffee, can't I uncle Tommy?" Mara asked, eyeing the steaming cup that Buck had placed for Tommy and himself.

"Nooo." Tommy stressed, moving the cup away from Mara. "You get some non caffeine drinks, I've got juice, milk, chocolate milk, or I can make you smoothie."

Mara pouted at that but answered "Smoothie please."

"You too Jee?"

Jee shook her head no, "I want juice please!"

They were in the middle of eating when the doorbell rang, "I know who that is." Tommy got up, "Take your time eating, I'm sure Chim and Karen could use some breakfast."

"Is that why we cooked enough to feed an army?" Buck joked. He smiled at the two girls before noticing their downtrodden expressions. "You two okay? What's up?"

"Do we have to go?" Mara asked, "Can't we stay one more day?"

"Pleeeease!" Jee added, "I want to have more fun."

Buck pressed his lips together momentarily, one to keep from smiling so hard and two, to keep from crying at how much his nieces adored them.

"You guys are always welcome here, yknow that." He reminded them, "What if I talk to your parents about having an uncles' day once a week? That way you guys can spend some time with us?"

Jee clapper her hands together and Mara nodded, all smiles as Chim and Karen came into the kitchen.

"Hey mom, uncle Buck said we could do a uncles day every week!" Mara said excitedly, running up to Karen and the Chimney for a hug hello.

"Did he now?" Karen looked almost smug at that, she knew how much of a softie Buck was. "I think that's a wonderful idea, right Chim?"

Chim picked up Jee, tickling her side, "Hey, if Buck and Tommy are up for it, you won't find me complaining."

After breakfast, Tommy and Buck hugged the girls goodbye while grappling with Karen and Chim bemoaning for buying them a jeep full of toys and books ("You try telling Mara and Jee no after they tell you that you're their favorite uncle!" Tommy complained after receiving the glare from Chim when he saw the ukulele).

The house became all too quiet too quickly. Tommy took Buck's hand and led him toward the living room, pulling the man onto the couch for cuddles.

"So, still want kids then?" Buck asked, rubbing his hand up and down Tommy's arm.

"With you? Of course I do."

Buck felt himself melt into Tommy's hold finally, content and safe about their future.

"I do have a question for you though, a pretty important one." Tommy admitted after a beat of silence.

He sounded serious and anxious enough for Buck to sit up and turn to look at him.

"O-okay." Buck stammered, his nerves fraying as he watched Tommy carefully for any signs of what the queation could entail. "What's the question?"

Tommy let out a happy and content sigh, taking a hold of Buck's hands, and then got down on one knee...

[saras-almanac]

911 Season 8 Rewrite - title tbd (nothing sounds or feels right but this if I'm honest...) I wrote these all this weekend and wanted to put them out before starting on the rest of the fic and the chapters. These are all little vignettes of where each character is sort of at and hopefully throwing a few of them forwards to know what we might be covering. Some things are going to just expanding on canon and some is just adding more stuff to it or stuff they could have (should have) explored more. Not sure how I'm going to organize each chapter cause they're likely going to be long, so it's either they're just written like fiction or I try to group things together to feel like an actual episode with calls and things. I'm not sure and I think that's something I'll have to figure out in the writing. Once I figure out a title, I'll post this to ao3. So for now, enjoy it on tumblr!

ATHENA

Athena stared at the computer screen in front of her, her mind both blank and whirling 100 miles an hour. She was technically off shift—had been for the last 48 minutes, but she didn’t want to go home. Mostly because it wasn’t home she was going back to. Not anymore.

The fire had burned nearly everything up. There were some things that survived, but most of those were so badly damaged they weren’t worth keeping. There were the stones from the patio littered around and some burnt wood pieces and Athena couldn’t bring herself to get rid of them because then it’d be really over, her home—the home she raised her children in, the only real home she’s had that felt hers—would really and truly be gone.

They were still waiting on their insurance money and the settlement to be paid out before they could start figuring out what they wanted to do, where they wanted to live. They’d spent a little time in a hotel room before taking Michael and David up on their offer of coming to stay with them for a bit in Florida. They had lasted only two weeks before they had to come back—both for testing that Bobby had to do for his heart (though David had been very focused on doing his own tests on Bobby) and because both Bobby and Athena wanted to get back to work. May was trying to convince them to stay with her for a couple weeks, but Athena hadn’t been able to take her up on it for more than a weekend. While it was sweet and gracious and Athena loved being able to be in the same place as her daughter, it hadn’t sit right with her. She was the mother—she was supposed to take care of her children, not the other way around.

Hen and Karen offered to house them for a bit while they figured out a rental or an apartment situation. But with everything going on with them and their fight to get Mara back, it was just a little too much, so they only stayed a few days. Now they’re staying with Chimney and Maddie and it’s nice, but it’s just not home. But Bobby seems to enjoy being around Chimney since they’re no longer working together, so Athena’s going to just suck it up and be happy to have a place to stay that’s not a sterile-but-not-sterile hotel room.

“Athena, you’re still here?” Ransone stopped by her desk.

“Uh, yeah,” she said. “Just packing up to head out. You need something?”

“Maybe,” he said. “I got a case and if you’ve got a minute, maybe I could run it by you, talk it over?”

Athena smiled at him. “I’ve got time. Let me grab a coffee and I’ll meet you in your office.” Sometimes staying late does pay off, but not in the ways you expected.

MADDIE

���And then Mara said the cutest thing to Jee last night when she didn’t want to go to bed,” Maddie said to Linda and Josh as they made their coffee in the breakroom. “She told Jee that the sooner she went to sleep, the sooner it’d be morning and they could have a tea party when she got back from school.”

“That is adorable,” Josh said.

“They’re both getting along?” Linda asked.

“Amazingly,” Maddie said. “I was a bit worried how Jee would take to having another kid at the house when she’s so used to be an only child, but she loves it.”

“And Mara’s settling in okay?” Linda asked. “I know it was tough on her to be taken away from the Wilsons.”

Maddie nodded. “I think she’s doing as best as can be expected. She misses her moms a lot, and Denny, but I think it’s weirdly helping her to have Jee to take care of? I know she had a younger brother so I think that protective part of her is giving her something else to focus on.”

Maddie sighed. “It’s just so hard because I don’t know how to assure her that she’s going to go back to her home because we all just don’t know when that’ll happen.”

“Or if,” Josh said. “I mean, they’re up against some big odds.”

“They’re been up against worse. I have to have hope that they’ll all be reunited because the alternative breaks my heart,” Maddie said.

“Have you and Chimney talked about what you might do if they can’t get Mara back?” Josh asked her.

Maddie hesitated. “No. Not really.”

Was that something they should have been talking about? Probably, but they were just so focused on making sure that Mara was safe and okay and that Hen and Karen and Denny knew that Mara was safe for the time being—the idea that Hen and Karen would never get Mara back never even crossed their minds.

“I’m sure it’ll all work out,” Linda said gently. “But having a conversation might be best, just to make sure you’re both on the same page on what the future holds.”

“No. Yeah,” Maddie said. “You’re right. I guess we just were so focused on the positive outcome we didn’t stop to consider anything else.”

“Does it change anything for you?” Josh asked.

“No, of course not. Mara’s welcome with us for as long as she wants,” Maddie said. “it’s more about what that might do to Hen and Karen that I’m worried about.”

“Hey,” Josh said, gently squeezing her arm. “I didn’t mean to bring anything down. It’s just, in our line of work, we know that we should be prepared for any potential or possibility.”

BOBBY

Bobby stepped out of the elevator and walked toward the receptionist. “Bobby Nash. Here for a meeting with Chief Simpson.”

The man clicked on his computer and then glanced up, gesturing to the seats. “If you want to have a seat, he should be ready for you shortly, Captain Nash.”

“Thanks.” Bobby sat in the chair, his heels clicking together as he straightened. He let out a long breath, trying to ease his nerves.

Bobby had been out on medical leave for the past few weeks—mostly due to an abundance of caution for Athena’s sake. He took it easy and didn’t press to be released from the hospital too quickly. When he’d woken up, seen everyone waiting around, he could tell that this hospital visit had been different, more intense.

It wasn’t until later that he convinced Chimney to tell him everything—that he’d been clinically dead for almost the entire drive to the hospital and that it was a long shot he’d even wake up again. And Athena had sat there, wondering if he’d wake up, the position he’d been in back in Minnesota. So he’d stayed at the hospital, listened to all the advice, and actually took days off to really focus on resting and healing up. He’d even let David and Micheal take them in for a week or two before Bobby had to get back to work.

Which is why he’s here now, waiting to talk to the Chief.

“Captain Nash,” Chief Simpson greeted, reaching out a hand to shake Bobby’s. “How are you feeling?”

“Better,” Bobby said as he got up to follow the Chief into his office.

“It’s amazing how often the advice of rest actually ends up helping,” the Chief said with a chuckle. “And yet, it’s so hard to follow.”

“It’s why I’m eager to get back to work,” Bobby said.

“I can imagine so.” The Chief sat down at his desk. “I’m glad you changed your mind about retirement. The department would be sad to lose a man as capable as you.”

“Thank you, sir.” Bobby felt his nerves amping up for some reason. “So… how is that all looking? I believe you got my medical clearance?”

“Yes,” Chief Simpson said.

“And…?”

The Chief sighed. “Medically, you have been cleared for restricted duty.”

Bobby frowned. “Right. So I just won’t be leading the charge for calls, but it’s nothing I haven’t done before.”

“Before you were awarded the Medal of Valor,” the Chief said.

“I… don’t know what that has to do with anything.”

“For better or worse, you’re well-known now. More than before,” the Chief said. “And I’m not interested in having more attention on you, or on me, than necessary. So we’re going to keep you on light duty for a little longer, until you’re fully cleared to return to full duty. Think of it as an abundance of caution.”

“Caution.”

“Look, Bobby, I’ll level with you.” Chief Simpson leaned forward, and folded his hands on his desk. “You know I’m tentatively interested in throwing my hat into the ring for Mayor, so I have to be very careful how I proceed here, not just with you, or the entire Fire Department, but also the other potential candidates. I don’t want to give them any ammo against me or against anyone who’s working under me.”

“I see,” Bobby said.

“The 118 has a bit of a magnifying glass on it right now, with the medals and media attention and I don’t want to cause people to dig even more there when they don’t need to,” the Chief said. “So until you are fully cleared to return to full duty, I can’t let you back as Captain.”

“I understand,” Bobby said, though he didn’t really. “So am I on fire marshal duty?”

“I think you’re a bit above that,” Chief Simpson said. “I had another idea in mind for you. There’s a show that’s shooting in LA that has requested an advisor of sorts. I think you’d be perfect for it.”

“To work on TV?”

“To work for a TV show,” the Chief corrected. “Look, I know it’s not what you want, but I also know that you’ll be able to handle this and not let it lose sight of coming back into the fold. And who knows whether that might be to resume your Captain position or perhaps a higher title.”

“Thank you, sir.” Bobby wiped his hands on his knees, pushing himself up. “I will report to duty as an advisor then. And will let you know when I’m medically cleared.”

“I appreciate your understanding,” Chief Simpson said, standing up and reaching out his hand to shake. “I’ll send you the information and contact for the position. We’ll be in touch.”

EDDIE

It’s quiet now, more than he’d ever noticed before. His house was silent, not even a creaking or groaning of settling. Even the firehouse felt silent in a way. It felt like everything was frozen, including himself.

He’d spent so many years now being a dad that he didn’t know what to do now, now that that option was taken away from him. Now that Chris has left. And not just for the summer or a break, but indefinitely.

There’s a list that sits on his night stand now of all the things he wants to get done around the house now that Chris isn’t here, updates and repairs, little things he’d been putting off for ages. Things he knows will keep him occupied at home for the next few weeks—Buck and Tommy had both offered to help him with those projects if he wanted.

The problem was Eddie didn’t know what he wanted, besides Chris coming home. Would working around his house make him feel better and show that he’s learning to keep a handle on things when Chris wasn’t there to sort of force him to? Or would it be more like he’s making changes to adapt for the rest of his life to be without Chris? Would Chris feel like he couldn’t come back if Eddie did some projects, like Eddie was making his life better without Chris? And if he didn’t do anything, would it look like he’s just throwing a tantrum because Chris left while he didn’t do a single thing to change or make things better?

Eddie didn’t know. He didn’t know the right answer or the right decision—if this was even a decision at all to make. And it’s not like Chris was talking to him. He was barely replying to Eddie’s messages and calling him didn’t help because he was getting one-word answers. It was clear that Chris was only accepting his calls because he felt he had to because Eddie’s his dad or because his parents were forcing Chris to answer. Eddie wasn’t sure if he wanted to know the answer to that.

“Bobby should be back today,” Buck said as him and Chimney came into the locker room.

“I’ll be sure to tell Hen that you didn’t enjoy her leadership,” Chimney said, slapping Buck on the back.

Eddie smiled at their antics because he was supposed to.

“That’s not what I meant!” Buck protested. “Eddie, you’ll back me up, right?”

Eddie held his hands up. “I am pleading the fifth.”

“Even your bestie knows you’re wrong,” Chimney said.

“Whatever,” Buck said. “You talk to Chris yesterday?”

“Depends on your definition of talking,” Eddie said, closing his locker. “I got him on the phone, but he barely said anything. I think I got “Hi,” “I’m fine,” and “I gotta go.” So not much to go on.”

“That’s rough,” Chimney said.

“You just gotta give him some time,” Buck said. “I’m sure he’ll come around once he calms down more.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

Thankfully anything else they were about to say to cheer him up was interrupted by Hen coming in to gather them outside.

“We’re being called out for a meeting,” Hen said.

“A meeting?” Chimney asked. “Who called it?”

“The new Captain,” Hen said.

“New Captain?” Buck asked. “What about Bobby?”

Hen shrugged. “You know as much as I do.”

“Oh no,” Chimney said looking out passed Hen.

They all turned and saw Gerrard walking down the stairs, his uniform as crisp as his moustache.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Hen whispered.

“Are they really letting him take over for Bobby?” Buck asked.

“Gather up!” Gerrard shouted. “Time to inspect the way this station has been thrown to the wayside so we can course correct.”

“I guess so,” Eddie said, slamming his locker closed and walking out. As shitty as it was to not have Bobby back, having a new Captain might be just what Eddie needed to stay focused on his job and not have to think about his empty house all through his shift.

KAREN AND HEN

Hen slumped into the chair and leaned heavily onto the table.

“Denny all set for bed?” Karen asked, tidying up the papers in front of her.

“He’s not the only one,” Hen said.

“Long day?”

“Long year,” Hen said. “Gerrard back, Mara gone, it’s just… every day feels like a fight.”

Karen nodded. She felt the same and there wasn’t more they could really talk about regarding their feelings on it. It was bullshit and horrible and it broke her heart, but she was tired of talking about it without action. “How is it having Gerrard back. Like really?”

Hen sighed. “I don’t know. The same, but different? It’s hard to explain. It’s not like he’s suddenly become this beacon of humility and humanity but he’s also better? It’s hard to know if he’s better because I have so much else to worry about or if it’s because he’s not as overt in his sexism or maybe he’s chilled out and actually grown a bit in the last decade.”

“Well, I guess it could be any of those,” Karen said. “Or a combination.”

“Time will tell with him,” Hen said. “It’s not the worst I’ve experienced and not even the worst under him, so I’ll take whatever win I can get. What’s all this?”  

“I’ve been looking for a lawyer for us. One that will actually take our case and isn’t going to be scared away or disbelieving that we’re being targeting by a councilwoman,” Karen said. “So, I’ve been doing some research.”

“Of course you have, in between all your free time at the lab, I’m sure,” Hen said with a small laugh. “Job interviews without the interview?”

“There will be an interview,” Karen said. “Obviously we need to know how seriously they’ll take us but I need to know that they’re someone worth meeting with. It’s crazy to see how many attorney offices are linked with the politicians in this city. Just finding an office that didn’t have an overt connection to Ortiz or anyone connected to her was difficult.”

“People like that flock together,” Hen remarked. “Can I help with anything?”

“Well if you want to take a look at these people and give me your thoughts?” Karen suggested. “I want to see what your instincts say before I tell you what I’m thinking.”

“My instincts?” Hen said. “What if my instincts were to go run you a bath and get you to stop thinking about this and relax for at least an hour?”

Karen raised her eyebrows. “Only an hour?”

Hen laughed and got up, pulling Karen with her down the hall. “I guess I’ll have to show you more than hour.”

Karen smiled as she followed Hen down the hall, noticing that Hen grabbed the files as well.

CHIMNEY

Chimney slammed his locked closed, tightening his belt as he looked over at Hen lacing up her boots. “You ever think that maybe we’re in someone’s sick joke? Like someone’s own Truman Show?”

“You think we’re interesting enough for people to watch?” Hen scoffed. “I don’t think so.”

“Well that’s why they keep throwing stuff at us, keeping us interesting to the viewers.” Chimney turned to her. “Like Gerrard coming back to the 118 after all this time.”

“I’d rather be boring then,” Hen said. “Though him returning is the least of my worries right now.”

“How’s the lawyer process going?”

“Slow,” Hen said. “Karen’s been meticulously combing through every possible candidate. We’re just trying to make sure that whoever we hire will actually be on our side.”

“You’ll find someone,” Chimney said. “Especially if Karen’s on the research. I remember when she moved in across the hall—she came with a checklist for the property manager.”

“Sounds like my wife,” Hen said. The laughed quietly.

“You’ll get it sorted,” Chimney said. “I have faith in that. And until then, Mara’s safe and secure and just a short car ride away.”

“Yeah,” Hen said. “You’re right. Just have to focus on one step at a time.”

“Exactly!” Chimney came behind her to squeeze her shoulders as they walked out. “Like today and our bet of how many minutes into the shift before Buck starts complaining about Gerrard.”

Hen laughed, catching sight of Buck already in line up and waiting for their new Captain. “I’m gonna say he’s not even gonna make it through inspection today.”

“Five bucks says you’re wrong,” Chimney said.

“You’re on.”

BUCK

“He hates me,” Buck said. “No matter what I do, it’s wrong.”

“That’s just how he is,” Tommy soothed as he washed the dishes from their dinner. Buck was drying but it was hard to care about drying dishes when his boss was an asshole who seemed to have it out for him specifically.

“I don’t even know what I did wrong,” Buck said. “I’m trying to do everything the best way possible but he seems to only want things done his way, to hell with efficiency.”

“Hmm,” Tommy said, passing him a plate.

“And it’s not even like I’m jumping rank or anything on calls!” Buck angrily wiped at the plate. “Even when I’m trying to follow his order to the letter it’s still not enough for him. It’s like he lives to find fault in everything we do.”

“He just likes to be in charge and feels the best way to do that is to constantly correct everyone, even when there’s nothing to correct,” Tommy said. “Especially when there’s nothing to correct.”

“I don’t how everyone else is handling it,” Buck said. “

“Probably the same way you are,” Tommy said. “Anything to keep from boiling over on shift.”

“I have come so close to wanting to hit him so many times,” Buck admitted.

“Thank god you haven’t,” Tommy said.

“Because I’m above that,” Buck said. “Yeah, I know.”

“Because you’d look awful in that orange jumpsuit,” Tommy said. “You’re cute, but bright orange rarely works for anyone.”

“So you’re saying you’d dump me if I was arrested for hitting Gerrard?” Buck asked, setting the towel on the counter.

“Of course not,” Tommy said. “I’d cheer you on. It’s the orange jumpsuit that might make me call it quits.”

“I thought you said I was adorable,” Buck reminded him.

“You are,” Tommy said, smirking at him as he placed the sponge back on the holder in the sink. “But even your adorableness has its limits.”

Buck just grinned because how could he not? He had a partner, a boyfriend who seemed to genuinely like spending time with him in a way that Buck’s never had before. He didn’t feel like he had to try so hard—obviously he still did, but it was because he wanted to for Tommy, not to get him to stick around. After all, the man had seen him at his worst and most… dramatic and chose to kiss him and ask him out anyways.

“I guess we’ll have to do some experiments then,” Buck said, grabbing his phone off the counter and pulling up some shopping sites. “See how much bright orange I have to wear before you don’t want me anymore.”

[callmebrycelee]

9-1-1 REACTION

These are my confessions, just when I thought that I was starting to fall in love, my boyfriend unceremoniously decided to dump me.

After a week off and a presidential election that felt like a season of American Horror Story, we finally got a new episode of the gay firefighter show. Unfortunately I was spoiled by the episode's ending courtesy of Tumblr but nothing could've ever prepared me for how infuriating things would get. But, I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's start at the beginning. This reaction is for the season 8, sixth episode "Confessions" which originally aired November 7th, 2024. The episode was written by Andrew Meyers and directed by Life Goes On and Pretty Little Liars actor, Chad Lowe! Spoilers ahead!

Best plot?

This week's episode focuses on a handful of our main characters. We finally get some time with Eddie and we get a bonkers storyline involving Buck and Tommy. However, it is Maddie and Chimney's plot that is my favorite. A few episodes ago, Hen and Karen regained custody of Mara which means Jee-Yun is back to being an only child. Maddie laments that Jee-Yun is having trouble adjusting to a life where Mara isn't her big sister anymore even though the two see quite a bit of each other. She suggests having a second child but Chimney has some trepidation about having another kid.  During an emergency involving a little kid getting stuck in a drain pipe a la "Eddie Begins", Chimney consoles his older brother who blames himself for his little brother wandering off and winding up in a dangerous situation. The little boy (played by Tiberius Byrd) volunteers himself to be lowered down in the pipe so he can pull his absolutely adorable baby brother out of the drain. Afterwards, Chimney warms to the idea of having a little brother or sister for Jee-Yun.

In their final scene, Chimney and Maddie have a raw and open conversation regarding their concerns about having another child. Chimney tearfully tells Maddie that if she is ever feeling sad or overwhelmed, she needs to come to him. She doesn't get to leave or try to figure it out on her own. He asks for total and complete transparency. Wow! I think we sometimes forget that while Maddie is a trauma magnet, Chimney has been right there since the beginning experiencing those tragedies with her. He went through the Doug situation with her. He spent six months raising Jee-Yun on his own while looking for Maddie. For him, having another child could send Maddie back down that same dark path again.

Now Maddie has some conditions of her own. She tells Chimney that they can't go into her pregnancy acting like she's broken. Oh, and yes you read that correctly. Maddie is pregnant! Yay!!! This is the best thing to come out of the episode and it makes me excited for this couple. Hopefully this time around, things will be much better for them.

Best emergency sequence?

We got three emergency sequences this episode but the best by far is the one involving veteran actor Jonathan Silverman. The Weekend at Bernie's and more recently Goosebumps actor plays a man named Walter Schaffer who is in the middle of a nasty divorce. His soon-to-be ex-wife, Liza Schaffer (played by Silverman's real-life wife Jennifer Finnigan) points out that Walter sneezes when he's lying and Walter has been sneezing a LOT! As things reach a boiling point between the two, Walter lets out one last sneeze which causes his stomach to split open and his guts to fall out. I really wish I could've taken a picture of my mom when this happened, She hasn't been this horrified by a 9-1-1 show since Owen Strand decided to perform CPR on a man frozen solid by his cryotherapy chamber. 

This whole scene is mostly played for laughs even though Walter has been eviscerated. After last episode's gut-wrenching accident involving Denny Wilson, it was nice to have a low stakes emergency. Also, it was good to see Jonathan Silverman. I love when they bring veteran actors in to have them perform these small roles. It's one of the reasons I like Ryan Murphy shows so much. He always pays homage to the legends. Oh, and Walter is okay. Even though he spilled his guts, he's still a creep! You made the right decision, Liza!

Episode MVP?

This was a tough one. None of our main characters did anything particularly outstanding this week. This episode is giving filler but I still enjoyed it. However, since I do need to pick someone to be this week's MVP, I'm going to choose everyone's favorite dispatcher - Josh Russo. Josh mostly serves as comic relief in this series but I thought what he had to say to Buck was particularly noteworthy. As someone who is part of the pre-Glee world. I relate so hard to what people like Josh and Tommy have gone through as gay men. I graduated in the early-2000s and even though life was much improved for LGBTQ+ people than let's say the 70s, 80s, and 90s, I still didn't feel comfortable coming out until my late-20's. Buck's coming out was so simple and much of that is due in part to the queer people that came before him. I'm sure someone like Josh had a difficult time prior to coming out and Tommy went as far as getting into a serious relationship with a woman before he finally made the decision to come out. Had the end of this episode gone a lot differently, I think Josh's monologue would be even better. I also love that he called Buck in instead of calling him out. I wish we got more scenes with Josh and Buck because as of right now they are the only two queer male characters on the show. 

 BuckTommy Corner

I've been dreading writing this part of the reaction mostly because it might be the last BuckTommy Corner we ever get. A lot of fellow shippers online seem to think that we may see Buck and Tommy reunite but the ending of this episode has me convinced that we aren't getting the BuckTommy endgame many of you have been asking for since the two first touched lips. Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself again.

After last episode's stellar development of Buck and Tommy's relationship, this episode's writer decided to burn it all down. Our first scene between Buck and Tommy finds them back where it all began. It's their six-month anniversary and Tommy has gotten Buck basketball tickets. Things seem to be going swimmingly between the two of them until some hot blonde comes over and asks Buck to take a picture of her and her friends. Buck seems very awkward by the situation but Tommy assures him it's okay for him to find other women attractive. Whew! Crisis averted! I was so sure this was going to be the conflict of the episode.

Then we get Tommy admitting to Buck that he is a Kinsey scale six which means he's g-g-gay ... even though once upon a time he was engaged to a 9-1-1 dispatcher with the most amazing hair. Yes, folks, Tommy Kinard was engaged to Abby Clark. Tommy mentions that after he ended things, Abby went on to date a himbo. Buck is completely shooketh by this revelation and goes to his sister for advice. This is where we get the fantastic monologue from Josh. Buck decides to come clean to Tommy and figures that this changes nothing about their relationship.

Tommy apologizes for calling Buck a himbo and the latter asks Tommy to move in with him. Then everything goes to absolute shit. Tommy spouts some bullshit about being Buck's first (male) relationship but he will not be his last. Tommy says he doesn't want to get his heart broken again and then throws up the deuces to a very confused Buck. I'm sorry, y'all! What in the absolute hell just happened! I don't know who that man was. I know he looked like Lou Ferrigno Jr. playing Tommy Kinard but it's like some alien took over Tommy's body during this scene. This is not the same man we have gotten to know over the few seasons. Yes, Tommy did have some reservations about getting into a relationship with Buck so soon after his coming out but they squashed all of that way back in 7x05. Since then, these two have been building something amazing only to have it blown up so unceremoniously at the end of this episode.

Now, as I mentioned prior, the ending to this episode was spoiled. After learning about the breakup, I immediately went to the BuckTommy Reddit and learned that others were as similarly confused as I was. To make matters worse, it appears that Lou Ferrigno Jr, is as equally flummoxed by the decision to end things as the viewers, which is not a good look for the show. Why give us all that development in "Masks" only for Tommy to exit stage left. Thankfully, Lou announced that he will be returning to S.W.A.T. so I'm comforted that I will get to see him again in a skin-tight black T-shirt. One thing I will say about Lou is the man stays working. Check out his IMDb. He may not be the series lead but he stays working and he will continue to work because he seems to be an extremely competent and professional actor. 

The end of this episode left a bad taste in my mouth and I'm not just saying that because of the BuckTommy breakup. I've somewhat suspected that things have not been good with this show for a very long time but as long as I got scenes with Buck and Tommy, I was willing to keep going. This show is in its eighth season and we keep putting these characters through the same paces. Eddie's still trying to figure out how to be a good dad to Christopher seven seasons later. Maybe the show is getting a bit stale? I dunno. This episode just felt less fun for some reason. Perhaps I need to watch it again.

With that said, I will continue to watch 9-1-1 because I do love the characters on this show and the actors that play them. Oh, and by the way, please do not give Lou or Oliver any hate for simply playing what was written for them. Also, a lot of you are upset with Oliver and calling him biphobic. Now, do I think he said some problematic things in the last interview he did? Yes. Do I think he needs to be nailed to the cross for it? Absolutely not! I think we as viewers and members of the LGBTQ+ community need to take a page out of the Book of Josh and start calling people in instead of calling people out. We are very reactionary people and I totally get it. Being part of a marginalized group (or two, or three) especially here in America is rough and we find ways to protect ourselves to prevent harm from being inflicted on us. With that said, I believe it is quite possible to take an ally to task without potentially alienating them. As an elder, millennial gay, I think that's something we can all get better at! Until next time ...

[melancholyghoul]

WIP anon here! Post the last segment you wrote without context and pass this on to as many blogs as you wish! 💫

oooooooh okay ~ (iykyk moment x)

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Footsteps bound up the stairs of the apartment building, he always takes two at a time. They thunder down the halls, he grips his key in his hand, cold metal embedding into his skin. He unlocks and throws the door open, slamming it quickly shut behind him with force that shakes the thin walls. Hopefully it doesn't bother his neighbours; he doesn't realise how much tension he's been holding until he starts to let go. He falls back against the door, screwing his face up in agony. The urge to yell builds in his chest. The universe had been screaming at him, and he didn't listen. He didn't hear it until it was too late. Now it's laughing at him and he isn't sure he has the power to fight it. The power to change it.

Texas? Are you fucking kidding me, Eddie? I want Chris back desperately, but I want him back here! Back Home! It's your fucking parents' fault, you know they have no intention of giving Chris back. You know they've been hunting for him ever since he was born. He belongs here, with us, with his family. Not just you and me, but Hen and Chim and Bobby and Athena and Karen and Denny and Mara and Jee and… and I can't have you both gone, I just can't. I can't.

All of the anger in his blood boils, and then the fire goes out. The heat dissipates, wrenching every ounce of energy from his muscles. He melts, collapsing onto the hardwood floor. One sharp, overdue breath and he is lost. There is no holding back the dam of sorrow that follows. A loud sob bursts from his chest, he grips one arm around himself and clutches his mouth with the other. His body trembles as he tries to keep himself together. Tears well and bubble in his eyes, he gains that burn in his sinuses and they flow. They flow hard and fast and unrelenting.

Nobody stays. Nobody fucking stays. I am alone again. I'm too much. I'm not enough. What's the fucking point in trying to have that perfect connection if it never lasts? I'm sick of it. I'm sick of trying. I'm sick of feeling. I'm not going to do it anymore. I just want to feel good. Wanted. Useful. Used.

[gigigazelleloves]

Ok now that I've had time to process the first episode and read some post-episode 1 articles, I have some theories about where the storyline is going for each character in season 8a.

Athena

I have a strong feeling that we're going to have a lot of Athena focus this season. I think it's going to contrast the heavy Bobby focus we got last season. I feel like this trial is going to not be just for the 3-parter premier but instead for the entire part of season 8a. We also have the great B plot of Bathena house hunting and seeing in this first episode how they have different tastes, I have a feeling we'll have some lighthearted moments for Bathena this whole season.

Bobby

Bobby is totally going to return as Gerrard might have kicked the bucket or gotten permanently injured. But I also have a feeling we will be seeing more of the "hotshots" actors appearing at Bathena's doorstep because Bobby can't help but adopt strays. I feel like Bobby is also going to feel some guilt about the whole fiasco that happened last season such as leaving the firehouse and also dealing with his house burning down as I feel like those things have still not been emotionally resolved. Overall though hoping that Bobby has a more lighthearted season.

Chim (and Maddie)

I know that everyone is manifesting that Chim and Maddie are going to decide to have another child but I have a feeling that Chim and Maddie might be forced to adopt Mara as I feel like something wonky is going to happen with Henren's trial. However I have a feeling they are not going to be a main focus until season 8b.

Hen (and Karen)

Basically the same thing I said for Chim and Maddie and that this who Mara and Councilwoman Ortiz. I also feel like that storyline will also transfer over into season 8b.

Buck (and Tommy)

Buck and Tommy is where I feel like we'll see the main plot come in for season 8a. From interviews Oliver has stated that Tommy and Buck are in the honeymoon of their new found relationship. But Oliver has stated that there are some uncomfortable truths they're going to have to face. I think from what he said it could be one of three things (realistically). 1. Tommy's racist past, as Chim is Buck's brother-in-law and Buck is going to maybe struggle to wrap his head around Tommy's past actions 2. It's going to be related to Tommy's father who if is anything like Gerrard is going to cause some havoc in the relationship directly or indirectly. I also think there could be a lot of insecurity with Buck feeling like Tommy is hiding things from him in the relationship which has happened before in his past relationships. 3. I think that Buck will have panic that he's doing something wrong and do a full Buck and avoid Tommy until he talks to someone about it (hopefully someone who is apart of the community like Hen or Josh). I feel like this could address the issue of maybe Buck feeling like he's late to the party when it comes to discovering his sexuality. I feel like it can also resolve the issue Buck has had when it comes to his relationship issues. I think overall this arc can show him becoming more comfortable and confident with his sexuality, solve his past relationship issues, and maybe establish him and Tommy as a solid couple.

Eddie (and Christopher)

All in going to say is I think Eddie is either going to find himself inside of a confession room or inside a therapy room. I hope they don't give him a new love interest as that would low key ruin his arc, I just want to see him become more secure with himself. I have my doubts though about him getting Chris back before the end of season 8a, but there is a slim chance it could happen. I just need him to figure himself out before he gets his kid back. I hope we see more Chris though in season 9, cause I doubt we will this season.

Overall I'm excited for all these arcs but honestly I'll be happy if there's just more Bathena 😝

[lyricfulloflight]

I am super nervous for the next season of 911. Like I don’t dislike Tommy but I also don’t like super love him either and I. Am. Nervous.

I agree with you about Tommy - I'm relatively neutral about him as a character.

I also don't tend to be someone who makes predictions much at all - I'd rather just be surprised.

I will say though, the fact that there has been little said about Tommy and little promotion of the Buck x Tommy pairing (it has been mentioned, but not as much as Buck and Eddie's friendship/relationship), makes me lean toward the belief that Buck x Tommy is likely short term.

But, as a Buddie shipper I am also aware that I could just be seeing what I'd really like to see in the promotional material we've had so far... shrugs.

I am excited about a lot of other things for this season though!

Seeing how the 118 manages with Gerrard (don't want him around for long, but interested to see how this affects all the characters and how they, hopefully, lean on each other to cope)

I want to see calls again! And the 118 working as a team during emergencies.

I want to see silly chatter in the fire engine and family meals!

I want ridiculous calls, and weird calls, and humorous calls!

They've been open about Eddie going on journey to discover himself, who he is without Chris, just as 'Eddie,' and I am so here for that!

I want some sweet moments between Hen and Karen and Chim and Maddie as the navigate the situation with Mara

I am honestly kind of thrilled with the whole 'bee-nado' situation because it is so implausible that it makes me giggle, but the fall out has so much potential for drama and action

Bobby as a technical advisor on 'Hot Shots' has so much comedy potential and I cannot wait to see it

That's a lot to be excited about I think!

One of the things I love about 911, is that yes, it brought me Buddie and I love them and I hope we are fortunate enough to get to watch them become canon. And that could possible happen this season.

But I don't love the show just because of Buddie.

I love all of the 118.

I love Chim and his devotion to Maddie and the power of their story, a story about finding a new love, building a better, stronger relationship with someone you truly love and trust and you loves and trusts and respect you back.

I love Hen and Karen and the endless pool of love they have for Denny, Mara and all the foster children who have come into their lives over the seasons. Those ladies have so much smarts between them they just knocked me over with it sometimes.

I love Bobby and his journey of redemption. The difficult path he has been walking to feel he actually deserves happiness in his life. I adore how he and Athena fell in love, and yet their past loves have never been dismissed, ignored or demeaned for their current love story.

(I will also miss the Bobby and Michael shenanigans -both the healthiest and yet most chaotic relationship between the 'new' husband and the ex-husband I have ever had the pleasure to witness).

Even though I don't always agree with Athena's choices, I would want her on my side, fighting beside be because that woman is fierce and she does not back down from a fight.

I love Eddie and his giant heart that he is always simultaneously giving freely to everyone and yet hiding away at every turn. As a fellow parent, I admire his amazing parenting skills and his trust and respect he has built with Christopher. If they aren't able to build back that trust in their relationship this season it will truly break my heart.

I left Buck for last, because he is my favourite. He has such a big heart and hardly any sense of self worth and all of that is wrapped up in this infectious energy that I simply cannot resist. I cannot wait to hear more Buck facts, his childlike energy about topics he's passionate about make me smile so much. I want the world for that man. (I also really enjoy him battered and bruised and covered in blood, but that says more about me that about Buck...)

In conclusion, I love 911!

Yes, I watch partly for Buddie, but I love the show as a whole. And I think we have a lot to look forward to, especially with a full season that, hopefully, won't feel rushed.

[soliloquy-please]

Spoilers!! for 8×01 my thoughts! Might be slightly out of order because my brain hurts.

0). "Don't jump" ..."Why not" had me rolling!!

1). Buck is so relatable in presenting an idea he thinks works as a group plan! Subtle appearance of clipboard/anxious over planner Buck. (Very me maladaptive daydreaming then presenting it as an option to my real life self like it's logical)

2). Also Eddie, Hen, and Chim are all making the right decision for them but it's a painful not to mention dangerous situation.

3).Weird as fuck they are asking Athena to do this :/ (suspension of disbelief activate)

3). Maddie and Hen hugging!!! My childhood crush and my current celebrity crush are touching nobody move!!!

4). The Chim and Mara scene reminds me of reading them with my Dad I bet he does all the voices! Omg poor Hen and Karen you're not losing her, just using your village for support! (I fucking hope or otherwise me and chimney will be having words but also what is best for Mara???? :'''))

5). THE FUCKING LEAN IN BUCK DID WHEN TOMMY SAID "YOUR A VISION IN A CONE" FERAL

6). Also Tommy's (or Lou? lol) little slip and curse I want to eat him!

7). Why the fuck is Eddie's Mom suddenly not being insane the switch up is good but I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop.

8). Eddie and Chris scene had me feeling physically ill! (Gavin has become such a skilled actor)

9). Me battling hating cops with the fact that Athena looks so hot throwing that man in the trunk 😐😳

10). Hmn! I think Buck is showing off some leadership ability here with the planning don't you think! The planning and initiative! Also going to Gerrard with his ideas because he knows they are good ones despite the ridicule he is at risk of receiving!

11). Immediately the theater kid in me knew the look British hotshots guy was wearing, but he had me cackling at the "I'm gonna study your every move"

12).The buzzing out while Gerrard was talking so relatable!

13). Also I can't believe Buck saved Gerrard even though it was mostly instinct it seems! Though if he didn't I think it could have hit him too. Goes through them both horror movies style.

14). I think Chim was a little annoyed that he saved him? Hahahaha (like we missed the chance damn)

15). Buck interim Captain??? Or Bobby Back hopefully!!!

16). Agh! I think they are so close to landing that Tommy might not get to help land the plane (airport 1975 style @mannafromtevan theory) I still hold out hope that someone parachutes into the plane because objectively it's hilarious and cool. Also I'm overly attached to the theory!

[inawickedlittletown]

The episode was good up until suddenly we started rushing through things.

Like as nice as it is to know we have Bobby back at the 118 and Mara is home with the Wilsons and that Ortiz had to even drop out of the race for mayor, it was just resolved way too quickly for something that we've had hanging over us since last season.

This is a storyline that should have lapsed a few episodes. Like yes give us the devastation Hen and Karen feel at the judge telling them no contact with Mara...have Gerrard and Bobby meet and Gerrard confront Ortiz but then leave it there so that we can sit on wondering if he's going to go with this plan to get rid of the 118.

Leave us hanging on no one knowing that Ortiz has a plan and that Gerrard may or may not be helping her...and then have them find out about Ortiz' plan for the budget cuts next episode or the one after and then have Gerrard's body cam footage be shown and have it get resolved.

And this would also just give more room for other storylines to shine and traverse several episodes.

It just seems like they're breaking the episodes down to isolate whatever story they want to tell within that episode without it carrying over so we can move on to other things whereas things would flow better if they balanced things out more.

Either way, that just means that when we do get to the episodes more focused on Buck (and Tommy) that they'll be hopefully focused on them in a similar way and as such give us plenty of screentime.

[buddiewho]

LONG POST!!

I have mixed feelings about 8x01. Not entirely sure what's up with the Christopher storyline?? Okay, so yes, I understand Christopher wanting to run miles away from the situation, I really do. I also understand Eddie's attempts to keep a relationship with his son even if Christopher does not want to build it back up at this time. You know what I mean?

There is something oddly suspicous about the pool thing with Helena…I know that slowly but surely Eddie helped Christopher get back to the beach and near the water. In the water?? I don't know it's got me raising my eyebrows.

Then in the interim, thinking about Eddie kind of sort of "third wheeling" Buck and Tommy. For example, the three of them are probably spending a lot of time together because somehow I do not believe Buck is going to leave Eddie alone for a long amount of time, unless specifically asked to do so. Then of course, I do think it's almost like "sharing" Eddie. Haha. Buck spends time with him. Then Eddie probably still goes to fights with Tommy. So they're all being friends and sharing time with each other??

Where they've asked Bobby to go is kind of odd. This whole meta show within a show thing, well, I've experienced that before (*coughs* SPN). It is an interesting turn of events for 911, if I say so myself, yet maybe it makes sense because LA/Hollywood?? Athena always kicks ass in everything she does. Putting that guy in the trunk…hilarious. On a different note, her amount of strength it takes to even agree to this prisoner transfer...

I do hope Hen and Karen find ways to screw over the politician lady that is screwing them over. Thankfully, we know Mara is in a safe place and still with the entire 118 fam, you know? However, I will say like someone else mentioned here, why the Harry Potter thing? Could've been a million other things? I don't know…an interest in dinosaurs so Mara and Chim run around making weird dino sounds? Yet this is something easily dismissed, when you pull back for the big picture of where season 8 is headed…

Personally, I did love the episode in the way that it showcases Buck. Sure, there have been times Buck has shown insolence and Bobby almost fired him for it. The problem is, Buck is not a disgrace to the uniform. The uniform is frankly, all he knows, and this job is something he is very capable of (which is sometimes not said DIRECTLY to Buck enough).

What I mean to say, Gerrard is insulting who he thinks is an insolent, independent thinking, rule breaker, but Buck has made strides in that regard. Is he sometimes himbo brained, well, yes, of course, but is he also sometimes armed and ready with INSANE facts of niche interest/thing, well, why yes of course he is. Sometimes that knowledge is best put to use; however, Gerrard's power trips are something else.

Hopefully, he comes to seeing an error of his ways kind of thing, or as I postulate- loses his memory? He has no idea who anyone is at the 118 and is barely capable of remembering who he is. Something other than, how it was with Chim and Tommy. Chim saved Tommy's life and so then Tommy understood the error of his ways. I do not want Gerrard there at all you know? I want him to somehow just forget everything long term and then have to navigate life somewhere else. Then the Fire Chief will make Hen or Chim Captain if they will not bring Bobby back. Bringing Bobby back is going to take the whole damn season by the way since they just started this actor shadowing him thing in their meta world.

This post may now take a SHIPPING turn. Fair warning:

Aside from the episode as a whole, I do wonder about Buck and Tommy. Ngl, I slightly agree with a comment I saw about Tommy disregarding things Buck is saying or how he is feeling, but on the one hand I also see how it'd be difficult to assess what exactly Buck wants when he is at the party complaining about Gerrard.

Does Buck just want Tommy to listen? Does Buck want words of endearment? Looks as if he only got a, "That sounds like Gerrard." And honestly, Tommy is probably going to be a straightforward type of man, which will maybe come off as cold. My thing is, in this situation, I'd have no idea what to say, besides listening to my partner rant about someone at their work who I also happened to know and do not want to interact with anymore, because around that person, I was a different person; someone I did not want to be. Would I (as Tommy might) feel bad that my now partner has to experience all that is wrong with Gerrard? Yes, I (he might)would be. But as the script went, all Tommy had to say was something brief, because really, what else is there to say? Now, if Buck had been for some reason mentally broken down to a sobbing fit of some sort then that'd call for some physical reach out from Tommy, right? I do not know why I am over analyzing this interaction, but I do wonder if Tommy's closed off attitude in physicality (at times) and even verbally will become an issue. I do think a relationship can become emotionally one-sided if only one partner is expressing thoughts and feelings, while the other is just kind of meh. You know?

Which leads me to the highs and lows we've already experienced with Buck and Eddie being entirely vulnerable with one another by choice or forced by dangerous life and death situations. What I mean to say is that technically, as always we still see Eddie being emotionally available (something Eddie has actively worked to improve) and supportive towards Buck, you know? Still not entirely sure, Tommy will actually be fleshed out for much longer, because at the end of the day, Buck will need someone who is emotionally available and ready to communicate, plus, listen. This is something we know Eddie can do for Buck and vice versa.

OKay, I digress. If you read this post. Thank you. It's long. I have no idea what any of it means, but I do know that for me, some sort of spark has been reignited when it comes to Buddie.

PS: Anyone out there insulting Eddie Diaz's character in any way is a sack of potatoes. If that man simply ignored Christopher then I frankly, think it'd be worse. Trying even when Christopher is not trying or giving an inch is the best thing Eddie can be doing. If he simply gave up, that is when I'd question something. In this situation, a parent reaching out to their child is ABSOLUTELY needed. I think doing it via video chatting is actually best as well. Christopher moved himself miles away from being physically near his father, so Eddie packing up and GOING to Texas would have been the wrong move, if you ask me. Do I firmly believe Eddie is still doing the right thing? Hell yes I do.

Can the mustache go? Actually, yeah, that thing can disappear please. But hey, this shot does make for a good meme:

[ravi-is-my-beloved]

My 8x01 Summary & Thoughts

Okay, I just watched the premiere of season 8, so I'm going to try my best to get out all of my thoughts. (There are a few things I didn't bring up, this is just everything I thought was important and would tie into what happens in the next two episodes.)

(I tagged this as 911 spoilers, but I'm adding a warning now. Under the cut is SPOILERS)

First of all, the music decisions for the this episode? Amazing. Love the fact that they used songs about bees. It was whimsy, which I love.

Gerrard was as annoying as I thought he would be and I loved everyone's reactions to him. I was surprised Buck didn't punch him, but I'm not surprised that Buck saved him while also inadvertently hurting him in the process. I hope this will put Gerrard out of commission for the next episode, but I don't have much fate that they'd bring back Bobby for the plane crash emergency.

Speaking of Bobby, I'm very sad that he had like three scenes this entire episode. Hopefully, we get more of him in the second episode, because I was wondering where he was. I do love that the lead actor on Hotshots wants to emulate after Bobby, because I'm sure Bobby's just itching to get someone to listen to him about the inaccuracies of the show. I hope Bobby gets to come back to the 118 soon.

As everyone speculated, Athena was tasked with escorting her late fiancé's killer, Dennis Jenkins (that's the killer, if it wasn't clear). But it's not enough that the plane she was on crashing was in her immediate feature, someone's out to kill Jenkins. All I can say about this is, I hope they don't put her through too much trauma. She's been through so much already these past seven seasons.

I'm lumping these two together since the majority of what they had this episode was together, and these two are Hen and Chimney. Chimney is bonding with Mara over Harry Potter, which I personally love them bonding. I also love the fact that Dennis, Karen, and Hen seem to come over to the Han house a lot to spend dinner so they can see Mara. Hen and Karen have a foster lawyer, so hopefully that will help with getting their foster license and Mara back. Definitely seeing signs of there maybe being friction between Hen and Chim soon about Chim and Mara bonding.

Eddie was going through it in this episode. First he has a very awkward happy birthday FaceTime call with Chris where Chris so clearly is still not happy with Eddie and Eddie has to find out that Chris is enjoying his time away in Texas. And then Buck suggests they lather Eddie in perfume to help get a drowning vic who has a swarm of bees over her out of the pool. It was very serious, but I couldn't stop laughing at the sight of him running around to attract all of the bees to him so Hen and Chim could go save the drowning girl.

Buck was very much butting heads with Gerrard. Every idea he had to deal with the bees (and they were good ideas), had Gerrard mad at him and then Gerrard even stole credit of the smoke idea. He also kept getting latrine duty, too. In the end, though, he did save Gerrard from getting sliced apart by a saw breaking and the blade flying in Gerrard's direction. And then, as I said, he inadvertently injured Gerrard by pushing him down (again, to save ) and giving him a head injury.

All in all, while there were some things that left me wanting for more (which is not unusual, there was a lot going on this episode), I did enjoy this episode. And it did, in my opinion, set up the rest of the season as something that was exciting and something that I'm looking forward to watch. I can't wait to see what the rest of the season has in store for us.

[frogsinflannel]

🩴🩴🩴

So this might be the fic I’m most excited about. I haven’t written much, but I have a really clear picture of what’s going to happen, some specific images and the themes I want to look at, so hopefully I can actually get it done! Thanks so much for the ask!

I had a busy day at work so I had to wait to get off to actually do this! So rude. Also I went meandering in the beginning because guess who was a space kid who did model rockets and got excited writing about it lmao. I cut like two paragraphs but that was all the editing I did.

&

Karen grabbed at the shelf, reaching for the bright orange box. It tips enough for her to inch it forward and she snagged it quick and then dropped it into the basket hanging on her arm.

Technically they had baking soda at home, but she wanted to grab a new box, something brand-new just for this, just for Mara. Her first venture into scientific inquiry!

Which maybe wasn’t really a universally recognized milestone, but it meant a lot in Mara’s development. She seemed so much more comfortable now and no matter what she’d been interested in they’d have encouraged it, but Karen was especially excited that she’d been interested in an experiment. It had started with them talking about what Karen did and then Denny mentioning model rockets. Baking soda and vinegar was pretty rudimentary, but it was also an easy, accessible experiment.

There were a few other things they needed - actual groceries, not just materials for their rocket - so Karen happily puttered around the store grabbing them. The last thing on her list was a bag of rice and she’d just turned into the aisle when she stopped short.

There was a man standing in front of the rice, staring blankly ahead with deadened eyes and stooped shoulders. It was a tall, white man holding a five pound bag of jasmine rice in the crook of one arm like a baby. More than that, though, it was a man Karen recognized. She stepped forward. “Tommy?”

She hadn’t seen him in awhile, though she had heard from Hen that he and Buck had broken up. She didn’t know Tommy well, had only vaguely remembered him from years before when he was at the 118 and had gotten them a space-themed mobile for Denny. It had been something of a shock when Buck had dragged him into Chimney’s hospital room after the wedding, both of them soot-stained and smiling.

He turned when she said his name, and when he recognized her he gave her a tight smile.

He looked terrible.

“Karen,” he said. “Good morning.” He pointed to the rice in front of him. “Did you need… ?”

“Yeah, thank you,” she said, walking up to him. He stepped back and she kept her eye on him as she grabbed a small package of rice and put it in her basket. “Really just wanted to say hello to you, though. How are you?”

“Oh.” His smile turned warmer, though it was still insincere. “I’m fine, Karen, thanks. How are you? How are the kids, doing all right?”

Fine. It took a considerable amount of restraint not to laugh in his face. The man was far, far from fine. Karen looked him over again. There were heavy bags under his eyes, puffy and red probably from lack of sleep. He wore a too-tight Lakers t-shirt, a pair of black joggers, and flip-flops. It was rude, she knew, but she couldn’t help but stare. She didn’t think she’d ever seen his feet before. They were long and pale, with chipped black polish on the nail of his big toe.

Oh no, Karen thought. She couldn’t imagine that a break-up was particularly easy for anyone to deal with but this? She looked back up, waiting until she caught his eye. This is dire.

&

make me write

[karenandhenwilson]

The whole foster care and foster parents situation in 9-1-1 keeps really challenging my suspension of disbelief. Especially if I start thinking about it in more detail in plans for some stories. I love the idea of Hen and Karen being foster parents and also adopting another child (or even a couple more children). I just wish it would be executed more carefully.

Let's start with Nia. She was clearly never intended to stay in foster care for long or get adopted by anyone. Everything we learn about that situation while she is reintroduced to her mother points at that. And while I don't know much about the US system here, there are just so many question marks about this.

If Nia was always supposed to eventually come back into her mother's custody, why wasn't there regular contact between them? It has to have been painful for Nia to be separated from her mother, who as far as we see is a very dedicated mother but was stuck in a horrible situation for a little while. And it had to be such hardship for her mother, too, to be completely separated from her daughter while she rebuild her life. Did she really believe she'd ever get her daughter back? Or was she fearing the whole time to never see Nia again until she was 18 and maybe not even then if Nia grew up to resent her without knowing the real circumstances? 

If Nia was never supposed to be adopted, why were Karen and Hen so convinced they would adopt her eventually? Where did the communication between Deidra or any other social workers and the Wilsons break down so much that there was such a miscommunication between them? Of course, Hen and Karen should not have been told any details about Nia's mother's life that weren't necessary for Nia's care, but it should have been made clear from the very beginning that Nia wasn't with them to stay. That her mother had every chance and intention to get back into a place where she could take care of her daughter again.

And of course, there is then Karen looking for Nia's mother. (And how did she even find her? After Deidra gave out the information about Mara's brother and his parents I kind of suspect she helped here, too. Which just brings up a lot of questions about Deidree and her suitability for the job she is doing.)

Then Karen and Hen prepared for months to adopt a baby. I don't fault the grandmother of that baby to change her mind after all. But I think it's a horrible decision of Deidra to come in and go "I'm sorry this adoption of the baby didn't happen. But I'll use your disappointment over it to push this horrible traumatized child at you and guilt trip you into fostering and hopefully adopting her all the while without telling you why exactly she is so traumatized to give you a chance to make it even worse instead of giving you the ability to help her."

That's how Mara showed up. She was tossed at foster parents without giving the foster parents even just the slightest bit of information about the trauma she was dealing with. I've seen the argument about Deidra protecting Mara's privacy with that, but I call bullshit to that. Hen and Karen were made responsible for Mara and her well-being. That includes her mental well-being. How can they help her to deal with the trauma of finding her parents dead and being separated from her half-brother if they don't know about any of it?

I agree that it's not right that Hen and Karen learned this information through Athena looking up Mara's parents. (Though, at least Mara's call to 9-1-1 would have been publically available anyway, right? Those calls are all made public in the US, as far as I know?) But they should have never needed to look up the information illegally because it should have been Deidra's duty to tell them at least the bare facts: Mara found her parents dead. Mara was separated from her half-brother because his father didn't want to take her. Because otherwise Hen and Karen had no chance from the very beginning to deal with either of those traumas.

Then there is Mara's blanket. We learn right at the beginning that the blanket is the only thing she has left of her old life. Why is that? I could understand that if there had been a fire. And in the beginning, I suspected exactly that: I thought a fire had killed Mara's family and when she was rescued, she held on to the blanket as it was the only thing that escaped the fire. But instead, we learn she found her parents dead and nothing was destroyed. Did the system really take everything else from this girl? Did they really not let her take anything else with her when she went into the system? That doesn't seem very humane or compassionate. (Or maybe I'm just not aware how truly horrible the system is in the US.)

Then, there is the whole situation of Mara being taken away from the Wilsons. That's a lot about corruption, of course. I mean, the adoption was nearly finalized as far as we learn. And suddenly Karen and Hen are declared unfit to be foster parents? Unfit to adopt? And seemingly no one took the time to look into it a little more closely? I honestly was also expecting Denny to be taken away from them in these circumstances. If they aren't fit to adopt another child, how are they fit enough to care for the child already in their care? Wouldn't it also have made sense for the Councilwoman to go all in here and do everything to have both children taken away from Hen?

At last, there is Maddie and Chimney becoming foster parents for emergency placement in less than 24 hours. Clearly without any kind of background check or anything else. When we saw with Hen and Karen how long it took for them, and how many hurdles they had to take. But it's canon now that somehow while one couple had to work for months to be granted this place, the other couple could just take it because from one moment to the next they wanted to. (Looking at both couples and comparing them brings up some horrible thoughts here, right? But I know for a fact the showwriters didn't consider that. They only considered how they could turn this situation they had created into something a little hopeful for the end of the season. I would not be surprised if s8 starts with Mara being taken away from Maddie and Chimney for the drama's sake.)

So, yeah. As much as I love to see more of the Wilson family, the drama the show writers create artificially for them is grating on my nerves the more often it happens. It also feels disingenuous for the representation Hen and Karen provide. There are so many other ways to bring storylines and drama into their family dynamic, and sometimes the writers were very successful in creating that: Hen's plans to change her career, the disappointment over the IVF not working for Karen, Toni showing up in LA unannounced and the conflict between her and Hen, the accident at Karen's work. We know nothing about Karen's family. I'd much prefer some drama with Hen's in-laws than this bullshit of a woman letting her grief lead her to ruin a little girl's life even more than it already is.

[bi-chimneyy]

tbh as much as I like Tommy and hope he's in future eps I'm not that worried that he likely isn't in 7 and 8 because they've got a lot going on anyways, Bobby's got a main storyline, hopefully Harry and Athena have stuff going on, Hen and Karen have Mara, Madney are married. like they've got a lot to work with so recurring characters will obviously end up on the back burner for a few eps. since s8 will likely be longer they'll probably get to play around more with longer term storylines.

[saras-almanac]

I actually loved that episode of 911! Everything felt right and completely earned and it’s setting up an amazing season 8. It’s all about consequences and I absolutely eat that up!

Eddie is going to have to deal with consequences of his actions and hopefully realize Chris isn’t a baby anymore and needs to have some agency, even if (especially if) it goes against what he wants. And this is really all down to Eddie’s own behavior and choices. I appreciate Buck’s talk with Chris at the end too, of not trying to press him but explaining that parents make mistakes because that’s something a lot of kids (all kids) have to go through.

Madney choosing to help Henren because they all love each other and Mara and want to give her access to her family while Henren fight to get her back. (Which I want to see them do immediately and I want to see Karen absolutely destroy that councilwoman for taking her daughter away, for potentially ruining a little girl’s life and chance at stability and happiness because of her vendetta against Hen)

Bobby and Amir, that ending scene was so fucking amazing. It was so good and well earned and the idea of I can respect you and what you’re doing but I don’t forgive you for what you did to me, took from me. Absolutely my favorite thing. I so want Amir to stick around and be a character because I love him, but like… away from Bobby and Athena? Could he maybe become friends with Maddie and Josh or Tommy or something? I don’t want him to leave yet.

Gerrard coming back—such an amazing set up for season 8 when almost everyone is focused on their own personal lives and how is this “shake up” going to affect things. Plus again the consequences of Bobby’s decision to quit… those choices have weight and it’ll be interesting to see that play out in the future. (Or maybe Bobby is gonna go to a different fire house for a bit? Or ride the desk? Who knows)

Buck and Tommy thriving and dating. Love that for my boy. He deserves someone who gets him and actively wants to be apart of his life. Plus I have to assume we’re going to get a lot of Tommy in season 8 just with Gerrard being there, Eddie being without Chris, and dating Buck…

The only thing I disliked was Athena hunting down Amir and holding a gun to him. Like I get it that she was clearly out of her mind with grief and fear and rage but it’s hard to root for a cop in general but even more so when they’re so blatantly abusing their power. But because it was two phenomenal actors acting off each other in a fictional tv show, I’m completely down for it!

[after-nine-at-the-oasis]

OHHH GOSH

Not good o.o

THERE'S A W H A T O.O

GOSH that hole 😭

SHE'S GONNA W H A T

Oh dang that's a lot of firefighters and fire trucks o.o

UHH OHHHH

Y'all ain't none of this good 😭

Aww Bobby worried about Athena 😭❤️

"Of course she is" SLFKFJDKHS EXACTLYY!!!

Girl she always doing everything xD want it done right I mean

OH GOSH

Ohhh gosh y'all 😭

This ain't good o.o

That's the last of my last thoughts, now it's time for the. . .

REVIEW

I loved this episode!! I thought it was great :D. I'm glad we at least got a scene or two with everyone - it was a good spread of focus! But, we still got plenty on the main plots :D.

I might come back and edit this but the next episode starts in 5 minutes so! Individuals time :D.

Chim and Maddie! Ate up as always, and I'm glad things are working out with Mara <3. I love them 🥰.

Hen and Karen! Thank goodness they've gotten a lawyer and a hearing soon 😭. Hopefully they can get her back soon <3. Also, Hen (and I'm sure Karen) was amazing at her job of course :). I love them <3.

Buck (and Tommy!)! My loveliesss :D. So glad we got a scene with Tommy 🥰. And I'm glad it showed him and Eddie being friends!! Anyway, poor Buck dealing with Gerrard :((. It sucks for all of them but he doesn't know how to deal with it and is struggling xd. I just hope Gerrard's okay, for Buck's sake o.o. Anyway, I love them <3.

Eddie! Poor Eddieee 😭. Man is going through it xd. Gerrard liking his mustache was crazy though lol, amazing xD. I hope Chris comes home soon, or at least that Helena becomes better <3. I love him <3.

Bobby! The show is crazy. Doing great though! I love him ❤️.

Athena! It's crazy what she as to do, but I'm glad she keeping him safe o.o. I love her <3.

I'LL FINISH LATER! SEE YOU NEXT EPISODE LOL!